Deadlock for end drop-gates



C. C. BREAKFIELD.

DEADLOCK FOR END DROP GATES.

APPLICATION 'FILED APR.12, 1920.

1,395,629. Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

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la I I %4WWQfv ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. BREAKFIELD, OF ALL- ENSVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JESSE B. BOYD, OF ALLENSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

certain, new and useful Improvements in Deadloeks for End Drop-Gates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in dead locksfor end drop gates, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive and easily operated lock of the character specified which will hold the end gate in closed positionwithout danger of accidental release, and which may be' easily released when desired, to permit the gate to drop into open position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved form of folding gaplk which may be used with an ordinary In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a wagon body provided with the improved end gate;

Fig. 2 is a rear end view;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the sideboards removed and the rack construction in place;

Fig. 4 is a view of one of the lock rod hooks.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with a wagon body consisting of the usual bottom 1 and side walls 2, the side walls having keepers 3 for receiving stakes 4: on side-boards 5, by means of which the capacity of the bed is increased. The end gate 6 is hinged to the cross bar 7 at the rear of the bottom of the body, by means of strap hinges 8 which have bearings at theirlower ends engaging a pintle rod 9 supported by the cross bar 7, intermediate their ends the straps, which are secured to the end gate 6, having bearings 10. In these bearings there are journaled outwardly extending journal pins 11 on the arms 12 of a yoke 13 which extends transversely of the bed.

This yoke body has intermediate its ends an outwardly bent portion 13 forming a hand-hold, and each of these journal pins is of a length to extend beyond the adjacent side 2 of the body, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. At each side of the body there is provided an eye 15 and each of the journal pins has a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1 1921.

Application filed April 12, 1920. Serial No. 373,269.

hook or curved lug 16 at its outer end which is adapted to engage the adjacent eye from beneath. An auxiliary gate 17 is provided for closmg the space between the side-boards 5. This gate has secured thereto straps 18, the said straps being connected at the ends of the gate, and each strap is oflset inwardly at its lower end, as shown at 19, to engage keepers 20 on the gate 6.

When the portions 19 of the straps are in engagement with the keepers the auxiliary gate 17 is supported above the gate 6 and in the same plane. The side-boards 5 have eyes 21 at their rear ends, which are adapted to be engaged by lugs or hooks 22 on the journal pins 23 at the ends-of the arms 24 of a yoke, consisting of the said arms and a body 25, and similar to the yoke 12-13 just described. The journal pins 23 are journaled in bearings 26 in the shafts 18 before mentioned, and the yoke operates in the same manner as the yoke 1213.

A flexible member 27, as, for instance, a chain, is arranged between the side-boards 5 and the auxiliary gate 17. Each chain is connected at one end to an eye 28 on the auxiliary gate and at the other to a hook 28 on the ad acent side-board. Each yoke is held against the gate, that is, in operative position, by means of an elbow latch lever 29 and 30, respectively.

Each of these elbow levers is pivoted to the gate, as shown, at the junction of the arms, and each lever has its short arm outwardly offset to engage over the body of the yoke, the long arm serving as a handle. When the long arm is parallel with the body of the yoke the short arm is locked over the latch yoke.

In operation, when it is desired to lower the gate, the latch levers are swung upwardly, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, to release the yoke bodies. The yoke bodies are now pulled outwardly by means of the handholds, releasing the locking lugs from the eyes and the gate swings down. If it is desired to remove the gate 17, the portions 19 of the straps 18 are lifted out of the keepers and the chains 17 are unhooked from the hooks 28.

I11 Fig. 3 there is shown a form of rack especially adapted for use with a wagon body without the necessity for removing the body from the running gear. The improved rack comprises a plurality of pairs of standards 31, the members of each pair belng pivoted together to swing crosswise with respect to each other or into register with each other. The corresponding ends of the members of the pairs are connected by slats 32, and it will be. evident that being so connected the members of the pairs will swing together.

The pivotal connections between the members of the pairs are in alinement, and each standard 31 is notched on its lower edge at the point where it will engage the sideboard of the wagon body when placed within the body in the manner shown in Fig. 3. When so placed the slats 32 are beyond the sides of the bed and extend the supporting surface for the hay or the like which is adapted to be supported by the rack.

It will be noted that the improved lock, in addition to holding the end gate in place, acts as a clamp for holding the sides of the bed securely to the ends of the end gate, for preventing spreading of the said sides. The hooks 16 are so bent that it is impossible for them to come loose, or for the bed to spread open. The eyes with which the hooks are engaged are made in a solid iron piece extending the full width of the bed, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

I claim: In a wagon'body; a sectional end gate comprising a lower and an upper section, the lower section hinged at its lower end to the rear base sill of the body, said hinge including straps secured to the outer face of said lower section and provided with bearings for a latch member, said latch comprising a yoke shaped body portion disposed longitudinally of thegate section and arms, each arm having "a journal pin mounted in the aforesaid strap bearings and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said pins provided with bent ends or lugs, eyes at the sides of the wagon bodyadapted to receive said lugs, the upper section of the gate provided with hearing. straps for a corresponding latch mechanism, said straps of the upper section offset and extending down wardly and engaging keepers on the outer face of the lower section, and a chain secured at one end to the upper section, and its opposite end to the side of the wagon body, whereby" the gate as a unit may be supported in horizontal position to form' a shovel board.

' CHARLES C. BREAKFIELD. 

